Your 2018 World Cup Guide: Group A Matches & the grand opening

14 May 2018

SATopShops

Group A of the 2018 World Cup Finals features the grand opening match between the hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia which becomes the first Asian team to take part in an opening match at the global finals. The group promises to offer exciting football action with the two other contenders being the Pharoes (Egypt) and Uraguay.

Some interesting facts about this group are:

It will be Egypt’s first World Cup since Italy 1990. Star man Mohamed Salah bagged the goal which sealed qualification to the global finals in dramatic fashion, as he converted a 94th-minute penalty against Congo to get the party started in Alexandria.

Saudi Arabia’s Mohammad Al-Sahlawi netted 16 goals on the road to Russia. The 30-year-old frontman finished 2018 World Cup qualifying as joint-top scorer, along with Poland’s Robert Lewandowski and UAE’s Ahmed Khalil.

Uruguay are two-time champions of the World Cup. La Celeste were inaugural winners of the tournament in 1930, before winning it a second time, at Brazil 1950.